Skirt-gage.



- 0. WETZ.

SKIRT GAGE.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1907.

91 4,542, Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

lllll Hi In: NORRIS PETERS ca, WASHINGTON, n c,

CARRIE WETZ, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

SKIRT-GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 9, 1909.

Application filed January '7, 1907. Serial No. 351,248.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARRIE lVETZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirt Gages; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in skirt markersor gages, and comprises the novel and advantageous features hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a skirt gage which is adaptedto gage or measure lengths of skirts which vary only a few threads,longer or shorter as the case may be, which is often found necessary bydressmakers and fitters, in order to add a skirt braid or binding to thebottom of the skirt. This I am able to do by constructing the horizontalgage arm over which the skirt is gaged, of a small diameter of wire, andin further supporting said gage arm in a position as low as possible inthe thimble which surrounds the graduated post. Two things areaccomplished by these expedients; firstit is possible to make a narrowseam by pinning the skirt around the gage arm and thus enabling thewearer of the skirt to see the exact length without stitching the seam,and while the skirt is on the wearer and is being gaged; secondlyit ispossible to bring the gage arm in close proximity to the floor and tothus gage the skirt in lengths varying within fractions of an inch orwithin a few threads of variation.

Preceding a detailed description of the invention, reference is made tothe accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1, is an elevation of myimproved dress skirt marker or gage. Fig. 2, is a detail illustration ofa modified form of arm by the use of which a half inch length is markedor gaged. Fig. 3, illustrates the manner of marking or gaging a skirt onthe wearer by means of my invention.

In a detail description of the invention, similar reference charactersindicate corresponding parts.

The metallic base 1 is of sufficient weight to insure its beingmaintained stationary from accidental displacement; this base has asocket for the reception of a cylindrical rod 2 which is secured thereinand which is provided with a marking scale or numerical indicationswhich indicate from one to ten inches and fractional parts thereof asshown. Adapted to be secured at any desirable point on said graduatedpost or rod is a gaging arm 3 which is attached to a band ring 4 whichfits over the post 2 and is made secure thereto at any point accordingto the length of the skirt desired, by means of a thumb screw 5. Theband ring is provided with screw-threaded socket bosses 9 and 11 intowhich the gage arm 3 and the thumb screw 5 penetrate. The socket boss 11it will be observed projects from the extreme lower end of the ring 4and permits the gage arm 3 to occupy a position close to the base. Asshown in Fig. 1, the gage arm 3 is at the lowest point and in suchposition will gage the length of a skirt to one inch from the floor; inorder to obtain a gage of less than one inch, for example, one halfinch, a curved gage arm 6 is placed at the lower end of the rod 2 afterremoving the gage arm 3.

It will be understood that sufiicient space be provided between the baseor floor line 10 and the gage arm 3 or 6 for the operators fingers inpinning up the lower edge of the skirt in marking or gaging the same. InFig. 3 of the drawings, a dress skirt is shown in a position which itwould occupy upon a wearer while being marked or gaged. The desiredlength is ascertained 'and the hand ring 4 is placed at the pro erfigure upon the rod 2 and is there secure by tightening the screw 5. Inoperating the device as illustrated in Fig. 3, the wearer of the skirtturns to her left, while the operator works to her right, receiving theskirt from the left to pin it up over the gage arm, passing the finishedlength from the gage arm to the right; the pinned edge shows the wearerthe desired length, and without further attention the garment is readyto be taken to the work room. In Fig. 3, 7 indicates the turned-up oroverlapping portion of the skirt with the gage arm 3 lying between thefold and marking the length of the skirt; the turned-up or overlappingportion is thus secured by a suit able number of pins 8.

It will be observed that the gage arm 3 is considerably smaller indiameter than the scale post 2. This gage arm is essentially extendinglaterally from opposite ends constructed of the smallest diameter ofsteel wire consistent with the requisite strength. The said arm beingcalled upon to stand little or no strain, may be constructed of a verysmall gage of wire. This enables the material to be pinned above thegage arm and close to the edge of the skirt so that the operation ofgaging the skirt creates a seam and obviates the necessity of stitchingthe up-turned portion in order that the wearer of a skirt may know theexact length after being gaged.

I claim:

A gage for measuring the lengths of skirts, the same comprising incombination, a supporting base, a scale post extending therefrom, anelongated hand ring surrounding said scale post and having aperturedbosses thereof, a binding screw penetrating the apertured boss nearerthe upper end of the ring to secure the ring to the post, a cylindricalgage arm formed from wire of a minimum diameter and supported in theapertured boss on the lower end of said ring, said gage arm owing to itsminimum diameter and to its position on the ring being adapted to permitof the material being pinned close to the edge of the skirt in the oeration of gaging the length thereof, an whereby lengths may be gagedwhich vary small fractional parts of an inch as compared one with theother.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,'

in presence of two witnesses.

CARRIE WETZ.

Witnesses:

R. J. Mommy, GEO. W. MEARIOH.

